Community Corner
State Police Investigating Swastika Drawings In Queens Schoolyard
The anti-Semitic drawings were found Friday in the P.S. 139 playground in Rego Park.
REGO PARK, QUEENS - After swastikas and and the term "Heil Hitler" were found drawn in an elementary school playground in Queens on Friday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo has directed the state police hate crimes task force to investigate.
"I am appalled and disgusted by the Swastikas and other anti-Semitic symbols of hate that were scrawled in a Queens schoolyard," Cuomo said in a statement Sunday. "I am directing the State Police Hate Crimes Task Force to immediately assist the NYPD in the investigation of this hideous act and hold those accountable to the full extent of the law."
The drawings, which have been erased, covered the playground at P.S. 139 in Rego Park.
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Swastikas and Nazi symbols, as well as the term “Heil Hitler” (sic) were discovered drawn all over an elementary school playground in Queens today. @CMKoslowitz & @tobystavisky were at the scene, and it has since been cleaned. @NYPDHateCrimes is investigating this incident. pic.twitter.com/4Mrh63bSbN
— NYC Jewish Caucus (@NYCJewishCaucus) February 22, 2019
I am horrified, disgusted, and nauseated, to say the least, of what I have witnessed today. Nazi imagery and anti-Semitic slurs were drawn at the PS 139 Playground in Rego Park. I was on the scene today and most of the imagery has been washed away. Enough is enough! pic.twitter.com/vteXmlqQyk
— Karen Koslowitz (@CMKoslowitz) February 22, 2019
"I am outraged and sickened that hate has reared its ugly head in our community," U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Queens) said in a statement. "The drawings found in the playground of P.S. 139 are disgusting and unacceptable and everybody throughout this diverse and welcoming borough must condemn these anti-Semitic images."
Please help ... Up to $2,500 Reward for information regarding the person or persons responsible for ..A Criminal Mischief/ Hate Crime in the confines of the @NYPD112Pct pic.twitter.com/xFe7sVaN2o
— NYPD Queens North (@NYPDQueensNorth) February 25, 2019
The NYPD's hate crimes division is investigating the incident. Police are offering a reward of up to $2,500 for information.
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